Front axle noises and problems

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  • #22
Exactly what you are saying. Totally unacceptable.
Why can´t your dealer follow your video to Lotus HQ?
I'm not sure how is Lotus fault or my dealer fault....(I'm afraid the latter) in the meantime I've contacted another Lotus dealer, I've sent him the video and waiting for an appointment (which at the very earliest would be around 20th of February, I have the car detailed from this coming Saturday) and I've contacted also a local garage of my area to change the brake pads, while doing so I ask him as well to have a look.
 
agree, I'm about to contact other dealers
Hey, really sorry to hear about your experience hope it will get resolved! Did you go to Lotus in Firenze or a different dealer ? I need to take my car in at the beginning of March for a few problems (steering pump, ground problem etc)
 
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  • #24
Hey, really sorry to hear about your experience hope it will get resolved! Did you go to Lotus in Firenze or a different dealer ? I need to take my car in at the beginning of March for a few problems (steering pump, ground problem etc)
Yep, Firenze.....contacted another one now
 
Yep, Firenze.....contacted another one now
Oh such a shame.. where is the other closest dealer to you ? Turin or Milan ? I hope things will work out differently when I turn my car in and I won’t need to change dealers as you did as the closest one would prob be Roma (~2.5h drive instead of ~40m). I’ll update how they were.
 
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  • #26
Oh such a shame.. where is the other closest dealer to you ? Turin or Milan ? I hope things will work out differently when I turn my car in and I won’t need to change dealers as you did as the closest one would prob be Roma (~2.5h drive instead of ~40m). I’ll update how they were.
I’m going to the Milan area, Turin way farer!
 
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  • #27
Quick update: after sending the email with the description and the videos of this post to the other dealer he said that most probably the issue is due to, and I'm quoting: "an anomaly regarding the entire fixing of the steering system", sounds very much the same thing Lafo Mamone suggested in his post
Had the same issue with creaking while slow turning, dealer fixed, they said its common, they tightened the bolts on the chassis plate. all good now!

I've booked already an appointment for the 20th of February, I'll leave the car there and they'll have a look in person.

I'll try to have as many details as possible in order to help others that may have the same issue

Let's keep fingers crossed that is something as simple as that
 
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  • #28
just a quick update:

regarding the Metallic noise at the bottom of the stroke they confirmed it is typical of the product, they tried with three other Emiras who have and all do it, there are no screws to tighten, loose movements of the frame or metal parts touching themselves, they checked everything, according to them it's the steering rack

regarding the Creaking noise when turning the steering wheel, they confirm that it is not normal and should not be there

in conclusion they are in contact with Lotus to replace the steering rack under warranty

In the meantime they found a whole series of overdue software updates: engine control unit, climate control, navigator...

they seem much more precise and scrupulous in their work, they answer questions promptly, also describing what they did and how that increase trust, they will most likely become my Lotus center of reference
 
just a quick update:
Glad to hear everything is working out for the better! They sound really professional, if I’ll have a problem with the dealer I’ll check them out.
I got my services + fix for a few things on 11/3 hopefully everything will go smoothly up in Firenze 🤞🏽
 
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  • #30
Glad to hear everything is working out for the better! They sound really professional, if I’ll have a problem with the dealer I’ll check them out.
I got my services + fix for a few things on 11/3 hopefully everything will go smoothly up in Firenze 🤞🏽
I hope so, keep me posted!!
 
Put my car in with the dealer (in Firenze) on the 11/3 and after some diagnostic they sent me the following update regarding my problems:
Buongiorno
Stiamo effettuando tutte le direttive per la sua auto, per il problema al servosterzo abbiamo notato una piccola perdita alla pompa idroguida

Abbiamo già provveduto ad ordinare il materiale che sarà in arrivo presso la mia officina per il 25/03/2024quindi salvo imprevisti per il 27/03/2024 gli ridaremo la vettura

Per l’avviamento difficoltoso della vettura abbiamo trovato il polo positivo della batteria non serrato correttamente

L’infotainment era da aggiornare con l’ultima versione sw disponibile

Per il paraurti deve passare il nostro carrozziere almeno sistemiamo anche questo

Translation:
Good morning
We are carrying out all the directives for your car, due to the power steering problem we noticed a small leak in the power steering pump
We have already ordered the material which will arrive at my workshop by 03/25/2024 so barring unforeseen circumstances for 03/27/2024 we will give him the car back
Due to the difficult starting of the car we found the positive terminal of the battery not tightened correctly
The infotainment needed to be updated with the latest SW version available
Our body shop has to go through the bumper, at least we can fix this too.

So all in all seems they have figured out why the problems are occurring, we’ll see if the software updates help with the disconnection problems with CarPlay and the stall on first startup, in regards to the odd noise when turning the wheel that I had (added here for reference, just noticed you can also hear the same small metal bang when you reach the end like yours as well, I’ll update if it’s also gone when I get the car back) oil was low so they are replacing what ever is necessary (I’ll verify with them what was changed for the knowledge of the forum and so I’d know haha), and the bumper alignment problem is that the rear bumper doesn’t fit flush at both edges by ~2m”m so they said it would be fixed.
Regarding the staring problem with the positive terminal it refers to a returning problem I had that the car wouldn’t get any electricity and I had to touch the negative terminal of the battery to wake it each time it happened, maybe that was the cause ? Didn’t notice it was loss tho so we’ll see.
For now I’m pleased with the service lets see how the car will be when I get it back tho 🤞🏽
 

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  • #32
Put my car in with the dealer (in Firenze) on the 11/3 and after some diagnostic they sent me the following update regarding my problems:
Buongiorno
Stiamo effettuando tutte le direttive per la sua auto, per il problema al servosterzo abbiamo notato una piccola perdita alla pompa idroguida

Abbiamo già provveduto ad ordinare il materiale che sarà in arrivo presso la mia officina per il 25/03/2024quindi salvo imprevisti per il 27/03/2024 gli ridaremo la vettura

Per l’avviamento difficoltoso della vettura abbiamo trovato il polo positivo della batteria non serrato correttamente

L’infotainment era da aggiornare con l’ultima versione sw disponibile

Per il paraurti deve passare il nostro carrozziere almeno sistemiamo anche questo

Translation:
Good morning
We are carrying out all the directives for your car, due to the power steering problem we noticed a small leak in the power steering pump
We have already ordered the material which will arrive at my workshop by 03/25/2024 so barring unforeseen circumstances for 03/27/2024 we will give him the car back
Due to the difficult starting of the car we found the positive terminal of the battery not tightened correctly
The infotainment needed to be updated with the latest SW version available
Our body shop has to go through the bumper, at least we can fix this too.

So all in all seems they have figured out why the problems are occurring, we’ll see if the software updates help with the disconnection problems with CarPlay and the stall on first startup, in regards to the odd noise when turning the wheel that I had (added here for reference, just noticed you can also hear the same small metal bang when you reach the end like yours as well, I’ll update if it’s also gone when I get the car back) oil was low so they are replacing what ever is necessary (I’ll verify with them what was changed for the knowledge of the forum and so I’d know haha), and the bumper alignment problem is that the rear bumper doesn’t fit flush at both edges by ~2m”m so they said it would be fixed.
Regarding the staring problem with the positive terminal it refers to a returning problem I had that the car wouldn’t get any electricity and I had to touch the negative terminal of the battery to wake it each time it happened, maybe that was the cause ? Didn’t notice it was loss tho so we’ll see.
For now I’m pleased with the service lets see how the car will be when I get it back tho 🤞🏽
Same noise my car had, same solution, the one I have now is different.

Glad everything is going well with you!!! Most probably mine was only bad luck
 
After long run and hot day I have this creaking noise from my suspension as well . Anyone have a solution for my dealership?
 
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  • #34
Quick update: the dealer seemed to have finally received everything and changed all the parts, according to them the noise is completely gone! Tomorrow I'll go to grab the car, fingers crossed! 🤞
 
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  • #35
Good morning, I am writing to you to find out if you have had similar experiences and if you have suggestions on how to resolve the issue, I hope to reach a resolution in order to be able to help someone who may have the same problem.

Around mid-September I take the car in for assistance, I picked it up new in July, for various problems, nothing important but annoying, one of these is a metallic noise from the steering wheel/front axle which occasionally occurs at the end of the steering wheel travel while I maneuver, another is an abnormal noise from the power steering pump always at the end of its stroke.

After more than two months and after having also carried out official recalls (it seems to me to be brakes, airbag struts and various control units) they returned the car to me with the power steering pump changed, all the other problems/annoyances resolved and improved except..... the metallic noise at the end of the stroke while I maneuver as if there was something not fixed well, to this were added two more always from the front axle: when the car is hot a creaking noise when the wheels are turned and a sort of ugly and strong resonance that is always hot when maneuvering, for example when parking.

The workshop kept the car for three weeks to try to resolve these problems, they say they also changed the power steering oil, but they were unsuccessful, despite making the foreman hear the noises as soon as he arrived, despite sending him the videos showing the noises (attached below), despite having specifically told them that it makes them especially when it is hot (about after 100km on the motorway plus or minus), according to them they were unable to reproduce them and they returned it to me as it was...you understand that I have completely lost faith in them.

What do you think could be due to this?

Metallic noise at the bottom of the stroke, present at the beginning of the video, not at the end, is barely audible

https://photos.app.goo.gl/GX4Zf6A13tFdzqQM8

Creaking noise when turning the steering wheel, audible a lot from the footwell

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hvZQ3t9AAxQPtzmv7

Clear metallic noise at bottom stroke

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tDePJdZCxcbAw2FT9

Noise as of something not fixed well at the end of the stroke (I'm not turning with force, normal force)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NqJFsW18N3ybesoS7

Last but not least you can barely see it but the one in the frame is the front rim that moves by turning the steering wheel, all three problems are present, in order in the video:
  • Creaking noise when steering (and slight noise of something not being properly secured) (about second 4, noise present since the power steering pump was changed)
  • Metallic noise at the end of the stroke (around second 9, noise present since I picked it up the first time)
  • “Resonance” noise clearly audible at the end of the video (around second 14, noise present since the power steering pump was changed)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/eQFPSwdpMtN9MEom6

Thank you for your help!
Today I picked up the car, drove it for more than 300 km between highways, city streets and motorway and... everything seems to be resolved!

In the end they told me that it was some metal filings inside the circuit, for this they had to replace everything (power steering pump, steering box, pipes, tank, radiator, etc...).

Let's hope for the best

A big thank you to Lotus Bergamo!

Lotus Florence.... better to draw a veil over it, for them there was nothing, Lotus in general..... better not to comment, procedures too long to intervene and solve the problems, let's hope for the future
 

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